My Genealogy Hound

William B. McRoberts, farmer and stock raiser, was born January 1, 1845, in Lincoln County, Ky., the son of Hayden J. and Lucinda R. (Bruce) McRoberts, the former born in 1810, in the above county, and of Scotch-Irish stock, and the latter of the same county, born in 1813. The father came to this county in 1853, and bought the present farm of Robert Holloway. He died in 1855. He was a member of the Kentucky Legislature, and was also sheriff of Lincoln County, Ky. His first wife, Martha J. Helm, died in 1842, and his second marriage occurred two years later. His widow, after his death, sold the farm in 1859, and four years later bought 180 acres in Lyon Township. She lived with her children here until 1864, when she married T. T. Graves. Her parents, William and Catharine Bruce, were natives of Virginia. The former was a soldier of the Revolution, a member of the Kentucky Legislature, the sheriff of his county for six years, and president of a national bank. He was also a prominent politician. Our subject, the eldest of five children, was nine years old when the family came to Missouri. Soon after his father’s death he began farming the place, and after the mother’s second marriage assumed full control. He then began to buy out his brothers and sisters, and in May, 1870, he married Laura, a daughter of T. A. Graves. She was born in this county in 1848, and was educated at Christian University, Canton, Mo. Their children were Mary L., Hayden J., Nora A. (deceased), Archie V. and Edith B. His share was forty-five acres, but at present he owns 1,200, acres and is one of the largest land owners of his township. His occupation is that of general farming, but the leading feature of his business is that of growing and feeding cattle, and his experience is that the best grades of cattle are the most favorable for growing and feeding. He is a Democrat, and has been a member of the Church of Christ for the past twenty-six years. His wife belongs to the same denomination.